VA annual report shows veteran suicides decreased in 2024 – stripes.com

VA annual report shows veteran suicides decreased in 2024  stripes.com

The VA released a report showing 6,488 veterans died by suicide in 2024, an average of 17.7 veteran suicides per day, compared with 18.2 in 2023. The Department of Veterans Affairs released its annual suicide report showing 6,488 veteran suicides in 2024, a slight decrease from 6,662 in 2023. The report is the largest national analysis of veteran suicide rates each year. (Joshua Seybert/U.S. Air Force) WASHINGTON — Veteran suicides dipped slightly in 2024 over the previous year, and patient records showed that recently documented mental health conditions and substance use disorders were common in the majority of cases. The Department of Veterans Affairs released its annual suicide report showing 6,488 veteran suicides in 2024, a slight decrease from 6,662 in 2023.

The report is the largest national analysis of veteran suicide rates each year. The report shows that there was an average of 17.7 veteran suicides per day, compared with 18.2 deaths per day in 2023. Sixty-two percent of veterans who died by suicide did not receive VA care the year they died or for the year prior to that. The 2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, posted Wednesday afternoon on the VA website, provides data on suicide counts and rates but also gives details and analysis on demographic trends based on age, gender and other factors. “It’s